Alternating-current relay.



l J. F, D. HOGE; RLTRRNATING CURRENT RELAY. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 191,0.

1,006,090, l Patented 001. 17,1911.

. 'UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE;

JOSEPH F. I).` HOGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ALTERNATING-CURRENT RELAY.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 17, 1911.

Application filed July 27, 1910. Serial No. 574,202.' f

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. D. Hoen,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in t-he county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alternating-.Current Relays', of which the following is a specification.v

My invention relates to improvements in relays adapted to be operated by alternating or pulsatory currents of definite frequency, andl relates particularly to relays of the type set forth in my application for Letters Patent tiled April 11, 1910, Si'. No. 554,667, which relays are characterized by a vibratory armature, arranged to be vibrated by the action of a magnet energized by an alternating or pulsatory current and havingcontact'points arranged to contact with such armature at a stationary nodal point thereof, the armaturefhaving also a bodily movement toward or away from such contact points, upon closing or breaking of such energizing circuit.

The present invention comprises means, alternative to that specifically claimed in my said prior application,` for adjusting the nodal point of the relay.

The objects of'my'invention are to make the relay respondto'alternating or pulsatory currents with substantially the same positiveness withwhiclian ordinary telegraph relay responds to the' breaking and closing of a--direct current; to make the relay respond effectivelyfto currents of predetermined frequency only, and to fail t-o respond effectively to other currents of materially different frequency.; to make the rclay sensitive and-quick acting; to cause the relay to break and close circuit with substantially the same promptness and. positiveness, as is characteristic ,of the ordinary telegraph relays; and generally to make the relay simple, compact and easy to construct and adjust. v

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In thedrawings: Figure l 'shows a side elevation and partial section of my iinproved relay; Fig. 2 shows a front elevation and partiall section of the relay; Fig. 3 shows a top view of the dash pot; and

F ig. 4 is a detail side View showing the armature in its attracted position.

In the drawings l designates therelay magnet', whichin the construction shown is an ordinary horse shoe electromagnet, provided with the usual adjusting device` 2 for moving the magnet toward and'from this armature. 3 designates the said armature which in the construction shown is a soft iron rod supported at one end by thin ilexible strips 4 adjustably secured in clamps 5 of a rigid support 6.' l

T designates a base plate for the armature, which preferably "is a rigid inexpansible member, such for exampleI as a slate base.'

The' relay is provided with 'front and back stops 8 and 9 respectively,mounted as is customary in' relays, in a yoke l0 carried by the said base 7; Either or both'of `these stops may be contact stops. Beyond 'these stops the armature is provided with a paddle or dasher ll more'or less completely submerged in liquid contained in a dash pot l2, means being provided for varying the depth of immersion of thisl dasher in the liquid in the dash pot, such for example, as means'for raising and lowering the dash pot. It is found vthat by varying thedei'ith of the iinmersion of the dasher in the liquid and thereby varying the resistance offered by the liquid, to the vibration of the armature, the normal rate of vibration of the armature is varied so that the relay may be adjusted within a considerable range to different frequencies of the energizing current. I have found that an armature such as shown vibrates in synchronism with the alternate magnetization vand deniagnctization of the magnet l, caused b v an alternating or pulsatory current of definite fi'emlencyfgand that ,by proper adjustment of the vdepth of immersion of the dasherll with respect tothe fre-fv fluency of such"magnetizationand demagnetization the said ariiiatnre may becaused l to have `a node or' stationary point'opp'osite the 1stops S and Juso that vibration of the armature lat other"points wi'llnot interi"ere"` with the forn'iatio'n off'a' good k)'conftacft be-' tween suchy nodal point ofthe..armature .antV ,Q l". diii'ereiitly by-, currents off diife'ifent; fre f' the front stop' 8f ,The armature is jaifect quencies passing' tli'roi'ighf'theinagnet l, and."

for-any one "adjustment of the depth of immersion of the dasher, the nodal point of Y With res )ect to the frequency for which ther the armature will be different for different 1 frequencies; or, possibly, the vibration of! the arinatureniay be so-coniplex.whenY er;- pesedto the influence of current other than that of substantially the frequency correspondin to fa particular adjustment of depth of limmersion of the daslier, that there is no definite nodal point, the vibration of the armature being possibly very' complex undersuch-conditions. At anyvrate, it is found in practice, that for any particular currentfrequency Within reasonable limits,

relay is esigned, an adjustment or depth of immersion of the dasher .may be found at which the armature has a node or stationary point opposite the stop 8.

The armature is provided with the usual .retractile spring 13. The action of the relay, with respect to currents of the frequency for which it adjusted, is substantially the same as that of an ordinary neutral. relay with respect to direct current; that is to say, when the circuit upon'which the current of such frequency is imposed, is closed, the armature is attracted to its front stop 8, against the tension of the retractile spring 13, and closes Contact with its stop 8, such .contact remaining closed until the circuit is broken, when the armature is retracted; and the contact so formed between the front stop 8 and nodal point of the armature, is substantially as good as the contact formed between tlie armature of an ordinary neutral relay and its front stop, upon the closingl of j a 'direct curret circuit through the magnet of such neutral relay. But. while, in the relay herein illustrated and described, the nodal point remains stationary While the alternating or pulsatory current is passing through the magnet, at other points the armature is vibrating in synchronism with the current pulfefz-itions or alternatioiis in the energizing circuit, andit is found that the point of maximum amplitude of vibration is at the upper end of the ariiiatui'e, where it is connected tothe flexible srq'iporting strips 4. The fiexible support ofthe arn'iature therefore plays a very important function in the operation of the relay, and a function very different frein the ordinary pivotal armature support of an ordinary relay, for while such iiexible supj'iortingstiips 4 permit the armature as a Whole to swing to- Wardv the magnet poles and the front stop 8 when the circuit through the magnet l is "closed, they also permitthe armature as a Whole to vibrate and in particular permit the upper end of the armature to vibrate back and forth, while the. nodal point of the armature remains lin Contact with its front stop S. The adjustment `of the depth of immersion of dashcr 11 for a j 'iarticular current frequency may be effected easily with great accuracy, because so lone astlie ad-v justinent is not practically perfect the armas-- ture vibrates rapidly opposite the. stop producing a buzzing or humming noise which decreases rapidly as the point of cor-- rect inunersion of the dasher is approached, and finally ceases when the correct adjustment is reached. Also it is found that'so long as the point of the armature opposite the front stop 8 is vibrating, a very impei feet contact is formed with said front stop, Which imposes a great resistance to the passage of current, but that -as soon as a proper adjustment is reached the contact between the armature and stop is practically as goed as vin an ordinary relay.

My improved relay, therefore, comprises a vibra-tory armature tuned to vibrate atv a definite rate or frequency, and, when vibrating ats-uch frequency, havingl a nodal point opposite and adapted t`o contact With the front stop of the relay; this ari'nature being free to move as a Whole toward and from suon front stop', so that the armature closes Contact .with its front stop upon closv ing of the energizing current, and breaks contact with its front stop upon the breakn ing of such energizing current.

l im aware that ithas been pi'oposcd her )fore to employ i vibratory armatures tuned to vibrate at a definite frequency; but so far as l, am aware such armatures hare not been supported 'in such manner as to be able to niove as a Whole toward land from a front stop located opposite a' nodal point ef the armature. lays employing viloratoryv armatures, with which It ani acquainted, it has been imp acticable to make a good electric contact with a front stop, and instead of making-contact with a front stopthe armatures of such forn'ierrelays have 'been arranged to coact with a sort of yibratory kicker contact lever coacting with the ariiiatuifc at a point where the vibration of the armature is relatively great, such kicker lever making a relatively poor contactI with a corresponding Contact stri. when the armature is inA vibration, but making a relatively better Contact with its stop when the armature is at rest or nearly so. lt has been found that in such former relays the armature coi'itinues to.y vibrate at its predetermined rate for a considerable time after the energizing current has ceased, so that such relays have been relavtively'sloiv to fespond to breakingiof the energizing current and so have not been Well adapted for rapidoperation. n the iinproved relay herein described, however, the arn'iature as a whole breaks contact With its front stop as soon as .the energizing current ceases, oi" decreases greatly, (according to the adjustment of the retractile spring), and therefore breaks contact With its front stop as quickly and as positively as does the armature of an ordinary neutral In such former re4 iat , relay working'on direct current; and even thoughgthe armature may continue to vibrate at its predetermined rate, after so leaving its frontcontact, it makes as good 'con-v tactwith its backlstop as it' does, upon closure of its energizing circuit, with its front. stop,.because\theback stop, like the`front stop,d is locatedwopliosite a nodal point of the armature. ,I'f, however, the alternating or ,pulsatory'cu'rrent passing through the. A magnet coils ofthe relay, is of a frequency. materially dilferentfrom. that frequency to whichflthe armature is tuned, then although the armature may, be attracted uponk the closing of'sucli' alternating or pulsatory current circuit,and may be retracted uponthe i breaking of suchzcircuit, they Contact between the `armature aiid'jthe front stop is not sufficiently good, during closed circuit intervals, to` pass current through such contact at anyv. thing r'approX'iii/iatin'grthe normal rate, the

` loweringi tl'ijefdaslrpot foire'gula'ting theV contactwith such front stop in such casesl imposinglso high resistance to the passage ofvcurrent that there is no dithculty in dis-y criminatingbetween attraction of the armature byl a cur efnt of'a frequency correspond! in'g to ythat-to which the armature is'adjusteh, and the attraction of such armature by' af Qurrentoffa materially different' fre; qu'eil'icy iiilotherfivords,r altliough the armaturelfdoes inlaetf respond to a.y currentof frequencywogtljier than that yto y which the armature islutuned, in effect the 'relay does nfolt'resp'ond'tb 'currents of frequencies vother than thoseto ichythe armature is tuned. 5' 'As one 'convenient means of raising and depth.-oliimmersion of the dasher, I have shown said d' y ternally "and Aarranged to. screw 'within a liivedfcover `M liayiiig "in its top a slot l5 thro-ugh 'which the armature passes.

4 In adjustinghtlie relay ,it sometimes found necessary adjusting it for a delinite frequency of current, to adjust the lengthA of theostripsfl by'lo'oseiiing the clamps 5. But in practice this isuiecessary if at all, only when first setting upy the relay.

In another application, tiled April ll, 1910, Sr. No. 554,668, I have illustrated this relay in 'connection with certain multiplextelegraph systems, in which it is adapted to be used. 'My relay in the forms shown in this application, and in my before-.mentioned application Sr. Xo. 554,667, is obviously adapted for use in various telegraph systems, involving the use of alternating or pulsatory cuirents'of delinite frequencies, whether such current be the only current in the circuit or whether there be in the circuit other direct currents, or other alternating or pulsatory currents of diii'erent frequencies.

One important application of my invention is a non-interterence tire alarm telegraph system, wherein each lire alarm boX vrent lfrequeinfies of the'.

.sible before,1 ia1nely,the ultane "opera- 'tion ot a large numlie l Yreala m if y Without delaying the i pot as screw threaded "ex-.

cuit a` current of den ditl'erent, and where'l y n rei ving stai ion, tor eacli such bt I relay of correspondin5 vwicrequei A ling local alarm re(l ing or indicating .apparatas.` provides absolute nonintert the different `re alarn bolesu it being possible for all` circuit'to send in tlu r signa ously, the receiving relay of each operated only by a curre ing fi'etpiency, and the' l only by its own box buch. te".A what, so far as I kml fIYcrl the same circuit, andthe mission of signals byg. taneous reception of ,nal4 of any b( the circuit.

What I claim is l. Inl combination, af having a normal peri() havingy a stationary. `no. ate point when vihrati and from such conta@ for resisting such' vi) the nodal point of' lthe U7 ed to move bodily,vas d ui f Il r9 .2181.1 e; such vibratory movement, toward and troni' '11D said contact points, means :t'or vibrating said member and for moving it bodily toward and from such contact points, and means for resisting such vibration for regulating the nodal point of the vibrating member, comprising a dasher secured to said vibrating member, and arranged to be vibrated in a resisting medium, and means for varying the action of such medium on said dasher. l I

3. In combination, a vibratory member, having a normal period of vibration and having a stationary node at an intermediate point when vibrating normally, one or more contact points arranged to contact therewith 130 liquid.

at said node, said member mounted to move bodily, as distinguished from such vibra-V tory movement, toward and from said contact points, means for vibrating saidmemf ber and for moving it bodily toward and from suolil Contact points, and means for resisting such vibration `for regulating the nodal point'of the vibrating member, oomprising a dasher ysecured to said vibrating member', and arranged to be "vibrated in a resisting liquid, and means for Varying the depth of immersion of said Washer insueh 4. In combination, a vibratory member having ai normal period oi vibration and having a stationary node at. an intermediate point 'when vibrating normally, one or more Contact points arranged to Contact therewith at said node, said member mounted to move bodily, as distinguised from 'such vibratory `movement, toward and from said Contact ',points, a dasher mounted'on said vibratory tain a'liquid in-Which ,said dasher Will move,4

and means for adjusting the depthof immersionfof said dasher in said liquid.l A

6. In combination, a vibratory member having-aJ normal period of vibration and having a stationary node at an intermediate point when vibrating normally, one or more contact points arranged to Contact therewith at said node, said member mounted to move lbodily, as-distinguished from such vibrato-ry movement, toward and from said contacty points, a dasher mountedon said vibratory member, and a dash pot adapted to receive said dasher and to contain a liquid in which said dasher Will move, and means for raising and lowering the dash `pot-to regulate the depth of immersion of the dasher.

7. In combination, al vibratory member,

having a normal period of vibration, and having a node at an intermediate point when vibrating normally, and a Contact point, said member free at one end and mounted to movev bodily vtoward and from said contact point, such bodily movement being distinct'from its vibratory movement, and'a dasher secured to said vibrating member and arranged to be vibrated thereby through a resisting medium.

8. In combination, a vibratory member,

having a normal period of vibration, 'and having a node at an intermediate point When vibrating normally, and a contact point, said member free at one end and mounted to move bodily toward and from said contact point, such bodilyv movement being distinct from its vibratory movement, and a dasher connected to said vibrating member and a dash 'pot receiving said dasher and adapted to contain liquid through which the dasher will move. l

9. 'In' combination, a vibratory member, having a, ynormal' period of vibration, and having a node at an intermediate point When .vibrating normally, and a Contact' point,

said member free at one end and mounted to move bodily toward and from said oon-l taet point, sueh bodily movement being distinct -from 4-its vibratory movement, and a 'dasher -oonnectedto said vibrating `membe`r anda ydash `pot receiving said dasher and adapted to contain liquid .through 'which the dasher Will move, and

means .for adjusting the position of the dash pot and thereby regulating the depth of immersion.

. In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, 1n the-.presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH F. D. HOGE.

lVitnesses: i i

H. M. MARBLE, E. S. Ross. 

